Bethel Church hosting Good Friday Experience for second year

JACKSON, MI - Bethel Church in Jackson is going beyond a traditional type of Good Friday service, offering an interactive tour that provides a window into scripture.

The church, 1691 Springport Road, is hosting "The Good Friday Experience" from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, where visitors can walk through the church and see a variety of scenes from the Bible.

“The Good Friday Experience is a unique event in that we are trying to engage people’s senses,” said Senior Pastor Walt Walkowski. “Instead of coming to a service, this event is more of a self-guided tour through some of Jesus’ last moments before his crucifixion as recorded in the Bible.”

Church staff and members of the congregation worked throughout the week to set up for the event. Nearly every room in the building is transformed into a biblical scene - from the Last Supper, to the Garden of Gethsemane. The last room is a representation of Jesus' death, which includes a full-sized cross.

“Each room that people walk through is meant to evoke a certain moment, such as Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, or the Last Supper with his disciples, and the set up allows people to go at their own pace,” Walkowski said.

“There are sounds, sights, tastes and even activities to participate in as one travels through the Experience, and it’s our hope that it allows people of all backgrounds to encounter and connect with Jesus’ journey to the cross in a whole new way.”

At the event's debut last year, an estimated 600 people came through the doors. Walkowski said he was very pleased with how things turned out, especially with the positive feedback received from church members and those in the community who participated in the event.

“This year, we expect at least as many people to come through as last year, perhaps even as many as 1,000,” he said.

“I think this is an important community event because it allows people to interact with the last moments of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion in a whole new and different way. It is one thing to read about these events, but in engaging our senses, these events take on a reality for us that we may not have before. At the very least, we believe people will gain an entirely new appreciation for all that Jesus went through on our behalf.”